The Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties

Laid out in accordance with strict geometric patterns in the very center of Beijing City and enclosed by the 10-meter-high wall and 52-meter-wide moat, the Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1406 AD -1911 AD) covers a total area of 720000 sq.m. and a total floor space of 150000 sq.m., possessing 980-odd buildings and 8700-odd rooms, and is the largest and best preserved ancient palace complex in the world, representing the highest level of architectural achievements in ancient China. Having met the criteria Nos.3, 4 for inclusion of cultural properties on the World Heritage List, the Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties was inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1987.